Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is a leading full-service law firm known for delivering insightful legal solutions across a broad spectrum of practice areas. With deep roots in Manitoba and a longstanding history of service excellence, the firm’s team of experienced lawyers offers sophisticated counsel to businesses, institutions, government entities, and individuals. They provide support in corporate and commercial law, litigation, employment and labour law, real estate, Indigenous law, and more, ensuring tailored strategies that address complex legal challenges.
Renowned for its reputation, Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP is recognized both locally and nationally for its skilled advocacy, commitment to integrity, and contribution to the legal profession. The firm’s attorneys are frequently acknowledged in prominent legal rankings, which reflects the depth of their technical expertise and their consistent record of achieving positive outcomes for clients. Their collaborative culture encourages knowledge sharing and innovation, allowing clients to benefit from the collective insight of their entire legal team.
Client service is at the core of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP’s approach. The firm emphasizes clear communication, responsiveness, and building long-term relationships based on trust. Whether assisting with day-to-day legal matters or navigating significant transactions and regulatory issues, the lawyers prioritize understanding each client’s goals and tailoring their legal advice to meet specific needs. The result is a client-centered experience characterized by accessibility, accountability, and practical, results-oriented solutions.
About Thompson Dorfmansweatman LLP
Practice areas
Business
Banking & Finance
Civil & Human Rights
Consumer Rights
Employment & Labor
Insurance
Intellectual Property
Lawsuits & Disputes
Real Estate
Media, Technology and Telecoms
Corporate & Commercial
Energy, Environment & ESG
Private Client
Languages spoken
English
Social media
Practice areas
Business
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive business law services, assisting clients with corporate and commercial matters, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and securities, business immigration, and taxation. Their team provides strategic counsel to businesses of all sizes, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating successful transactions. The firm's expertise extends to advising on corporate governance, financing, and restructuring, supporting clients in achieving their business objectives.
Banking & Finance
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP's Banking & Finance practice offers comprehensive legal services, including corporate debt restructuring, loan recovery, enforcement strategies, and guidance on lender liability, bankruptcy, and receivership. The firm's lawyers have been recognized in the 2025 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for their expertise in Banking & Financial Institutions, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring, and Corporate Commercial Law. Additionally, TDS was listed as one of Canada's Best Law Firms for 2025 by the Globe and Mail, highlighting their distinction in Banking & Finance among other practice areas.
Civil & Human Rights
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive legal services in human rights law, assisting clients with issues such as discrimination, harassment, and other violations of human rights. Their experienced team provides representation and advice to individuals and organizations, ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights in various contexts.
Consumer Rights
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP (TDS) offers comprehensive legal services in consumer rights, assisting clients in navigating complex issues related to consumer protection laws. Their team provides counsel on matters such as product liability, deceptive trade practices, and consumer fraud, ensuring clients' rights are safeguarded. TDS's approach combines in-depth legal knowledge with a commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for individuals and businesses facing consumer-related challenges.
Employment & Labor
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive labour and employment legal services, representing clients before the Manitoba Labour Board, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, and arbitration boards under collective agreements. Their lawyers negotiate and draft collective agreements, act as spokespersons during bargaining, and advise on agreement interpretations. They provide guidance on employment-related legislation, including employment standards, human rights, and workers' compensation, and assist with employment contracts and employee manuals. The firm also handles employment terminations, wrongful dismissal actions, and issues related to human rights, workplace harassment, disability management, pensions, workplace health and safety, and pay equity.
Insurance
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP's insurance practice offers comprehensive legal services to insurers, including corporate organization, regulatory compliance, policy interpretation, coverage opinions, and litigation of coverage disputes. The firm has extensive experience in investigating fraudulent claims, arson, and other deviant claims activity. Their vigorous liability defense practice encompasses areas such as commercial general liability policies, professional negligence, product liability, directors and officers' coverage, municipal liability, and construction surety policies. Notably, the firm has demonstrated expertise in defending professional liability claims throughout Manitoba, serving leading regional and national insurers.
Intellectual Property
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive intellectual property services, assisting clients with the protection, management, and commercialization of their IP assets. Their expertise encompasses trademarks, copyrights, patents, licensing agreements, and technology law. The firm's team includes experienced professionals such as Silvia de Sousa, a partner and trademark agent with over 27 years in IP and technology law, and M. Ingrid Ruiz, who advises on IP ownership strategies and licensing agreements. Additionally, Chad Laferriere-Enns specializes in IP protection and litigation, while Jessica Barley focuses on corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on intellectual property. This multidisciplinary team ensures clients receive tailored solutions to safeguard and leverage their intellectual property effectively.
Lawsuits & Disputes
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP's Advocacy, Litigation, Insolvency, and Dispute Resolution group offers comprehensive legal services to insurers, large corporations, small businesses, and individuals across various legal areas. Their litigators handle cases involving bankruptcy, construction disputes, class actions, debt collection, employment matters, insurance litigation, intellectual property disputes, personal injury claims, professional negligence, regulatory affairs, tax litigation, and wills, estates, and trusts litigation. With extensive experience appearing before all levels of court in Manitoba and other jurisdictions, including the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada, they also employ alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration, mediation, and Judicially Assisted Dispute Resolution to achieve cost-effective and innovative solutions for their clients.
Real Estate
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive legal services in real estate, assisting clients with property acquisitions, sales, leasing, financing, and development projects. Their team provides strategic advice on navigating complex transactions, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, and resolving disputes effectively. By leveraging their extensive experience, they support clients in achieving successful outcomes in all facets of real estate law.
Media, Technology and Telecoms
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP's Media, Technology, and Telecoms practice offers comprehensive legal services tailored to the dynamic needs of clients in these sectors. The firm's attorneys provide strategic counsel on a wide array of matters, including technology contracts, data privacy and cybersecurity compliance, telecommunications regulations, and media-related issues. They assist clients with licensing agreements, software development, cloud computing, and the protection of intellectual property assets. By staying abreast of evolving technologies and regulatory landscapes, the firm ensures that clients receive informed guidance to navigate complex challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the media, technology, and telecommunications industries.
Corporate & Commercial
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP's Corporate & Commercial practice provides comprehensive legal services to businesses across various sectors, including banking, financing, securities, franchising, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, business immigration, and taxation. The firm's lawyers offer strategic advice and practical solutions tailored to each client's unique needs, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating successful business operations.
Energy, Environment & ESG
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive legal services in energy, environmental, and ESG matters, assisting clients with environmental approvals, licensing, and regulatory compliance. The firm's expertise encompasses contaminated sites, mining and mine rehabilitation, wind power development, and natural resource projects. Notably, partner John Stefaniuk, K.C., recognized in the Lexpert Special Edition: Energy & Mining 2024, brings extensive experience in environmental law, real estate development, and municipal matters, regularly representing clients before government licensing bodies and administrative tribunals. Additionally, partner Sheryl Rosenberg provides counsel on environmental approvals, mining, and regulatory compliance, as highlighted in the Lexpert Special Edition: Mining 2023.
Private Client
Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP offers comprehensive legal services to individuals through its Private Client Services Group, addressing areas such as family law, criminal defense, residential real estate transactions, tax litigation, personal injury claims, and wills, estates, and trusts. Clients receive the same level of care, professionalism, and confidentiality as enterprise clients, ensuring personalized and effective legal solutions.